Croatia Sailing Adventure - Dubrovnik to Split Trip Notes

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Trip code : IZSRT

Trip length : 8 Days

Trip starts in : Dubrovnik, Croatia

Trip ends in : Split, Croatia

Maximum group size : 9

Ages : Min 15

Day

1

Dubrovnik

Dobro Dosli! Welcome to Croatia.

Your adventure begins with a group meeting at 3pm on Day 1 at "Pizzeria" next to the ACI Marina reception, Dubrovnik.
The undisputed jewel of the Dalmatian Coast, Dubrovnik is a beautiful white stone town surrounded entirely by city walls.
Although it experienced devastation during the war in the early 1990s, the old town - with its tiled roofs and stone buildings - remains as charming as ever. Extensive restoration has taken place to return it to its original splendour, and even today repairs are still being undertaken. With the sparkling water of the Adriatic in the background, Dubrovnik is picturesque, full of character and can easily be covered on foot.

After the group meeting, we leave the mainland shores and sail the open waters of the Adriatic to the hidden paradise of the Elafiti Islands.

Accommodation: Overnight boat (1 nt)

Days

2-7

Sailing the Dalmatian Coast

Elafiti is made up of three main islands:

Kolocep – Known as the green island because of its 100 year old pine groves, carol-trees, olive groves and citrus trees. There are also two villages to explore – Donje Celo and Gornje Celo

Lopud – This island has spectacular parks and beaches and is one of the best developed touristic islands in the Dubrovnik area. The island is also home to several monasteries and ruins to explore.

Sipan – this is the largest of the island group with a long history full of stories and legends and considered one of the jewels of the area.

We continue on to the picturesque island of Mljet. Legendary in ancient history as the idyllic island where the shipwrecked Odysseus lived for seven years, today the island is a haven of lush national park, forests and small villages.
Since Greek sailors sought haven here from storms, filling up on fresh water from the springs, the island has been inhabited by Illyrians, Romans, Slavs and Avars. In the 13th century the island was given to the Benedictine order, who built a monastery in the middle of one of the island's western lakes, Veliko Jezero. In 1410, Mljet was formally annexed to Dubrovnik.
The fields and vineyards that dot the island are the foundation of the local economy, with Mljet's villagers producing wine and olive oil as they have been for hundreds of years.

Why not explore karst valleys and catch your reflection in inky blue lakes on a guided tour through the national park. Wander beneath cool pine forests, through chasms and gorges, and discover ruins such as the remains of an Illyrian fortification, a Roman palace and a 5th-century church.

Sail north-west through the jewel-like waters towards Korcula (approx 6 hrs). Sweep in past the round, defensive towers of Korcula Town via the Peljeski Channel.
Natives of Korcula believe Marco Polo was born on the island. Whether or not this can be proved (the Venetians have a similar claim), Korcula is steeped in a long history and the islanders are proud owners of this little gem, smaller than Dubrovnik but no less precious to its inhabitants. Greeks settled in the 6th century BC (they called the island Black Korcula), but the town was occupied by the Romans, the Slavs and then the longest period of rule passed to the Venetians between 1420 and 1797. Even Napoleon was ruler for a while. As a result of all these influences, Korcula has a stunning Old Town - romantic and evocative. And what's more, there are plenty of warm beaches to relax upon if that's more your speed.

From here we head to Lastovo, the largest island in the Lastovo archipelago. Lastovo was settled by the Illyrians and then the Romans followed until the invasion of the Avar and the Slavic migrations in the 7th century.The island itself is about 10 kms long and 5.8 kms wide and is surrounded by a jaggered coastline and 46 islets and reefs. The highest peak on the island is Hum standing at 417m. Seventy percent of Lastovo is a forested area, home to rich communities of falcon and hawk nests. In 2007 it was declared a natural park. Archaeological findings from the ancient Roman period and the Middle Ages have been found in the bay of Ubla - on the southwest coast.

Set sail to Vis, the fartherest island from the mainland. Vis has retained it charm and laid back lifestyle. Take an optional island tour to learn all about the history of the island.

Make sail for Brac (approx 4 hrs).
Sunny Brac is the largest island in central Dalmatia, set among steep cliffs and a distinctly Mediterranean landscape. Villagers have farmed wine, olive oil, figs and almonds in the difficult interior of this rock-strewn island for centuries, but it's the small, beach-side towns that draw the crowds. Brac's most famous export is the gleaming white stone mined from the island's quarries, cladding buildings as deep in antiquity as Diocletian's Palace in Split, and as far afield as the White House in Washington DC.
Take a leisurely cruise along the the coast of Brac, soaking up the sunshine and the scenery. Weigh anchor and go for a paddle in the aquamarine sea, or snorkel and spot sea anemones, crabs, sea urchins and small fish in the pristine waters. Anchor for the Night in Bol or in a nearby Cove, depending on the weather.

Voyage along the Neretvanski Channel away from mainland Central Dalmatia, and moor in the sailors Port Stari Grad ( translated “ old town” ) (approx 5 hrs), settling in for an afternoon of beach-hopping, enjoying seafood fresh from the day's catch and kicking back with cocktails on the waterfront.
Hvar has an air of Venice about it, and is known as the 'Queen of the Dalmatian Islands'. Wander around towns with wonderfully preserved Renaissance facades, hike past dramatic jagged limestone cliffs and slow your pace to enjoy the undulating farms, ancient olive groves and fields of rosemary and lavender.
You have the Option to cross the Island by Car and visit Hvar Town which is the so called San Trope of Croatia. It is almost a must. The Driver will drop you on the Castle overlooking the Town from where you then after take a hike down to the Waterfront.

Sail from island idyll to city wonderland, and approach the palm-lined harbour of Split from its best side - framed by towering coastal mountains and the blue of the Adriatic.
If Dubrovnik is considered the heart of Dalmatia, Split is certainly its soul. Situated on a small peninsula on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's the second largest city in Croatia.
Explore the impressive ruins of Diocletian's Palace - Split's most imposing structure and indeed some of the most interesting ruins on the Adriatic coast. Diocletian (245-313 AD) was a Roman Emperor infamous for his cruel treatment of Christians in the 3rd century. He chose the peninsula at Split to build this huge palace for his retirement, near to the Roman settlement of Salona (Solin), the ruins of which can still be seen today.

The final night of our sailing adventure is spent in this vibrant Croatian city.

Accommodation: Overnight boat (6 nts)

Day

8

Split

The trip ends in the exuberant city of Split at approximately 10am, after a last breakfast aboard the yacht. Please do not book a flight earlier than 3pm in case our arrival is delayed due to weather conditions.

NB. The Itinerary above may be subject to change depending on weather or berth availability. Your Skipper will make the final call to ensure your safety at all times.

International flights, departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.

Basic

Our Basic tours offer superb value and are ideal for those who are happy to forgo some creature comforts in favour of an authentic and fun experience. Under the leadership of a fully trained tour leader, you will enjoy all the highlights and freedom of independent travel with the convenience, security and companionship of a small group.

Style Facts

Plenty of free time to explore independently

Optional activities to suit your budget

Freedom to choose your own meals

Simple family run hotels

Mostly public transportation

Fully trained and experienced leader

This tour is operated by our partners Intrepid.

A necessary bugbear of adventure travel, visas can appear complicated, costly and confusing to apply for. Imaginative Traveller recommend applying for visas with a professional visa service who can guide you though the process and take care of lodging and collecting your passport with multiple embassies, so we have teamed up with The Visa Machine.The Visa Machine ‘live and breathe’ visas and have the expertise to provide current and accurate information and arrange the correct visas for your trip, quickly and at a good price. Please click here for more information.

We strongly recommend you visit your doctor to discuss health requirements for your trip. They will advise you regarding the appropriate inoculations. In some places anti-malaria medication may also be required. Some vaccines need to be administered a few weeks before departure so allow yourself plenty of time. Obtain a certificate of vaccination and carry this with you on this trip. A dental check up is also highly recommended.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping, participating in optional activities, and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.You will need to take cash to cover all additional expenses not included in your tour cost. These include food, drinks, optional sightseeing, tips, laundry, souvenirs and possible delays. If in doubt, bring more than you think you will need. It is always useful to carry an additional amount for emergencies. If there is a medical emergency you are sometimes required to pay at the time; providing your claim falls within the scope of your policy, your insurance company will make reimbursement later

You must have extensive travel insurance as a condition of booking with us, and without evidence of a valid policy you won’t be allowed to start your trip. Please click here for more information.

Responsible tourism is at the heart of Imaginative Traveller. For 20 years we have taken customers to places around the world in social and environmentally responsible manner, ensuring everyone involved respects and maintains the natural and often delicate balance of the destination.As travellers ourselves we are well aware of the impact that tourism can have and whilst economic gain from tourism is often fundamental to a country, it should never be at the expense of its culture or the environment. It is our aim to provide journeys that have minimal negative and maximum positive impact on the places we visit. We do not believe that, as visitors, we should impose our own cultures on others; rather that we should experience foreign cultures and appreciate them for what they are.We believe giving something back is essential. We therefore work with our customers and the people we visit to ensure the benefits go directly to contribute to local cultures and environmental conservation. This is not only good the communities we visit but it also gives our travellers more enriched adventures.For further information about responsible travel please click here.

The air holidays and flights shown are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL4157. ATOL protection extends to either clients who pay in United Kingdom or where the first leg of ant flights we arrange start in the UK.

We are also bonded for land only tours with AITO Trust Ltd, membership number 5044.

Imaginative Traveller is an Appointed Representative of Campbell Irvine Ltd who are authorised and regulated by the Financial Service Authority. This can be checked on the FSA’s register by visiting the FSA’s website at www.fsa.gov.uk or by contacting them on 0845 606 1234

The pricing on the Imaginative Traveller websites is the latest pricing and supersedes any pricing published in brochures, leaflets or any other advertised price.